What Vaccines A 912 Week Puppy Might Get:
- CORE: DA2P Combination shot protecting against Distemper, Adenovirus , and “Parvo.” This vaccine may be administered as a DA2PP, which is the same thing, but also includes protection against Parainfluenza .
- NON-CORE: Bordetella The initial vaccine can be given at this age if necessary or desired, depending on the type of vaccine used .
- NON-CORE: Canine Influenza Virus There are two different canine flu vaccines available, each protecting against a different strain of dog flu. If this is the first dose of this vaccine your pup is receiving, they will need a booster in 24 or 3 weeks later, depending on which vaccine they are receiving, for the best protection.
Where your puppy can usually go and what they can usually do after this 912 week vaccine visit:
- Start puppy classes: If a puppy hasnt yet begun their puppy socialization classes, they can do so after receiving their vaccines during this time period.
- Play with known dogs:A puppy can continue to meet other KNOWN and healthy puppies and adult dogs.
- Avoid: Sidewalks, parks, pet stores, daycare, and other areas/settings popular with other unknown dogs should be avoided.
- Socialization visits: A quick socialization visit to the groomer should be OK, so long as the shop is kept clean and there arent or havent been any sick dogs there recently. Shopping malls and home improvement stores can be great places to socialize your puppy without excessive risk of contagious dog diseases.
Oral Versus Nasal Bordetella Vaccine Versus Injectable
The intranasal version of the Bordetella vaccine is probably the most commonly used form. An injectable form and an oral form are also available.
One advantage of the intranasal Bordetella vaccine is that it has a fast onset of immunity, possibly within 48-72 hours. This can be beneficial if a pup needs to board or be groomed on short notice .
The oral Bordetella vaccine is not used as commonly as the intranasal version, and data has shown it to be less effective. However, it is still more effective than no vaccine at all so it may be a good option for dogs who dont tolerate intranasal vaccines.
The injectable Bordetella vaccine for dogs may also be preferred in some circumstances, especially with dogs who are aggressive or extremely nervous, since this form of the vaccine doesnt require contact near the pets face.
Which Dogs Should Get The Kennel Cough Vaccine
Any dog who routinely comes into close contact with other dogs should be vaccinated. Kennel cough is spread like the common cold in humans, most often as airborne particles or on contaminated material. Dogs should especially be vaccinated if the contact is indoors, such as at a boarding or daycare facility. It just takes one ill dog to infect the whole crowd. It is worth protecting your dog if you are frequent dog park visitors, too. Dogs who compete in shows or sport and those who are service dogs should also be vaccinated.
Theres one primary question pet parents should ask themselves to determine whether or not their dog is at risk for contracting kennel cough: does my dog come into contact with other dogs?
If the answer is yes, then your pet would benefit from being vaccinated. However, secondary questions include does my dog have any underlying medical conditions that make it unsafe to vaccinate him? and does he currently have a respiratory infection? If the answers to these are no or if you are unsure, then talk to your veterinarian about updating your dogs vaccines.
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Also Available In Other Formulations
NOBIVAC® INTRA-TRAC® EFFICACY
PROMOTES A STRONGER IGA RESPONSE THAN SUBCUTANEOUS VACCINATION16,17
- IgA on mucosal surfaces appears to be more important than systemic responses when it comes to protecting against respiratory pathogens 18,19
- Prevents microbes from adhering to mucosal surfaces of the nose and throat
- Helps clear microbes trapped in mucus at the point of entry
INTRANASAL VS. ORAL AND INJECTABLE
NOBIVAC® INTRA-TRAC®3 INTRANASAL OFFERS ADVANTAGES OVER ORAL AND INJECTABLE VACCINES
*Dant JC, Waszgis B, LaFleur RL, Xu Z, Tarpey I. Duration of Immunity for an Oral Bordetella Bronchiseptica Vaccine. ISCAID Proceedings, Portland, OR, 2018.
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What Are Multivalent Vaccines

The veterinarian may suggest a multivalent vaccine. These vaccines are designed for convenience, providing immunization from two or more strains of microorganisms in a single injection.
The American Animal Hospital Association recommends a common multivalent vaccine known as the DA2P. This vaccine protects dogs against diseases such as canine distemper, adenovirus 2 and adenovirus 1 and canine parvovirus.
These vaccines are considered safe for puppies and they are always sealed by the manufacturer. No veterinarian will simply mix up vaccines in a single syringe themselves.
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Scheduling An Appointment For Dog Vaccinations
A puppy vaccination schedule should be established during your first veterinarian visit, which should take place within a week of receiving your new puppy. An adult dog vaccination schedule, which includes periodic booster immunizations, can be scheduled after the puppy vaccination schedule has been completed, or immediately upon welcoming an adolescent or adult dog into your family.
As with any other immunization protocol, a dog vaccination schedule should be adhered to without deviation, in order to ensure your canine companion remains healthy, happy and well for the duration of his or her life. Schedule an appointment for your canine companion to receive their vaccinations today.
Can I Prevent My Dog From Having A Reaction To The Bordetella Vaccine
Vaccines help to protect your pup’s long-term health and well-being, preventing diseases from ever arising in the first place. And the risk of your canine companion having a serious adverse reaction to vaccination is quite low.
All of that being said, if your dog has previously had a reaction to a vaccine, be that for Bordetella or a different disease, always inform your vet ahead of time. They may advise you to skip a certain vaccine in the future to mitigate risksespecially for an optional vaccine like Bordetella.
The risk of reactions to vaccinations increases somewhat when multiple vaccinations are given at one time. This can be particularly true in smaller dogs. To help reduce the risk of reactions, your vet may suggest getting your dog’s Bordetella vaccine separated out from any other vaccinations they need over the course of several days.
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How Often You Should Get Your Dog Vaccinated
The most important thing about dog vaccination frequency is that it varies depending on the vaccine.
So, if youre trying to figure out how many shots your dog needs and how often he needs them, make sure you talk to your vet.
With the DA2P vaccine, for example, youre going to get your puppy a dose of the vaccine once every three weeks until hes 16 to 18 weeks old, according to Dr. Lyon.
The reason for that is because of maternal antibodies, Dr. Lyon explained. The most important dose that the dog gets is that 16 weeks of age dose. The reason thats probably the most important dose is because thats when we can comfortably assume that … the protection that the dog got from its mother has actually gone away, and is no longer eating up the vaccine that were giving.
So that final dose during the puppy stage given around the 16- to 18-week mark is the one thats actually going to provide the immunity to distemper, adenovirus 2 and parvovirus.
From there, youre going to need specific instructions from your vet about how often your dog should be getting his boosters to maintain that immunity.
And those instructions are going to be different depending on exactly which vaccine your pup is getting, so you cant just assume that the process is the same across the board.
How Much Does The Bordetella Vaccine Cost
Exact prices obviously vary depending on the veterinarian clinic you go to, but the average cost of a Bordetella vaccine by itself is about $19 to $45, according to CareCredit.
In addition to the cost of the vaccine itself, youll probably have to pay the rate for a standard vet visit, too.
It would be the veterinary exam plus the cost of the vaccine, Dr. Schwartz explained.
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The Typical ‘puppy Shot’ Series
The puppy shot series usually starts between 68 weeks of age, with new vaccines and boosters given every 34 weeks until the puppy is 1617 weeks old .
Discussions with your vet will help determine the best vaccines and schedule for your particular puppy and situation as its NOT always a one-size-fits-all.
The timing and duration of a puppy shot series, as well as which vaccines are included in the series, is dependent on several factors and isnt necessarily always 100% completely the same for every puppy. Some of the factors that influence which vaccines a pup should receive, as well as when and how often, include:
- Puppys age
Note that the vaccines listed below are marked as either “core” or “non-core.” A discussion of what this means and why it’s important is provided further along in this article, after the list.
68 weeks of ageIn some cases, your puppy will already have received some of these vaccines before you pick them up. Check with the people or organization you’re getting your puppy from to confirm which vaccines your pup received, and when. This information is important for your vet to have to know best how to structure your pup’s initial vaccination series, as all of these puppy vaccines need to be given in a series of “initial” shots followed by “booster” shots.
Puppy Shots: Vaccines Your Puppy Needs
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What Is The Bordetella Vaccine For Dogs
The Bordetella vaccine for dogs protects against this specific bacterium and is widely available to keep your dog safe from kennel cough. You may have heard it called the kennel cough vaccine.
Bordetella vaccination is given either by injection or intra-nasal route. Intra-nasal refers to the liquid vaccine administered as nose drops. This allows local immunity to develop on the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and windpipe where the infectious agents first attack. The injectable version of this kennel cough vaccine goes beneath the skin in the subcutaneous tissue, not the muscle, making this one of the easiest vaccines for pups to receive. Intra-nasal vaccination is the choice of many veterinarians but there are exceptions where the injectable vaccine is preferred.
Congratulations On Your New Puppy

So now that your puppy has settled in at home, how do you ensure that your new puppy has the best protection against preventable infectious diseases? Luckily, nowadays we have effective puppy vaccinations that help protect them from these dangerous infections.
Here is a simple guide that you can follow so that your puppy has the best chance of remaining protected right up until adult hood. Vaccination guidelines vary in animal shelters and between different regions of Australia. The protocol may also vary depending on the specific brand of vaccine that your vet stocks. Below is the approach that I use in my practice:
1st Puppy Vaccinations: 6-8 weeks old
The first puppy vaccinations consist of a 3-in-1 vaccine known as a C3, which covers the following life-threatening diseases:
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Adenovirus
The majority of puppies in Australia will usually have had their first puppy vaccination before you bring them home, but it is vital to ensure you have a vaccination certificate that confirms this.
2nd Puppy Vaccinations: 10-12 weeks old
The second puppy vaccinations consist of a 5-in-1 vaccine known as a C5:
- Parvovirus
- Parainfluenza
- Bordatella
Leptospirosis vaccination may also be recommended by your veterinarian and is depends on your geographical location.
3rd Puppy Vaccination: 16-18 weeks old
The final puppy vaccinations are a repeat of the 5-in-1 C5 vaccine:
- Parvovirus
- Bordatella
A General Health Check
A Note on Leptospirosis
References:
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What Vaccines Do Dogs Need
There are some vaccines that every single dog really should get, regardless of his breed or where he lives.
All dogs should get what we refer to as the core vaccines, Dr. Lyon told The Dodo.
These core vaccines are:
- Parvovirus vaccine
- Rabies vaccine
The illnesses that these vaccines prevent are super common and can be deadly, which is why the vaccinations are so crucial for your dog.
The reason why is because all of them are potentially fatal, Dr. Lyon explained. All of them are around.
This list may differ based on where you live for example, certain countries may have diseases that arent common in other locations so be sure to consult with your vet about what your individual pup needs.
Vaccine Risk To Humans
Transient shedding of attenuated B. bronchiseptica is likely to occur following intranasal and oral administration to dogs. However, the actual risk to humans, if exposed to attenuated bacteria, has not been definitively established.86,94,105
Infection risk to immune compromised persons from the transient post-vaccination bacterial following intranasal or oral B. bronchiseptica vaccine has been raised as a concern by physicians .
Veterinarians who are concerned over the risk to humans who could have post-vaccinal contact with a dog may elect to administer inactivated B. bronchiseptica vaccine, which is not associated with bacterial shedding following administration.
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Injectable Version Vs Intranasal Version Of Bordetella Vaccination
As we have seen, there are many different ways to get the Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine. A nasal vaccine can be placed directly into the nose of a dog. It travels straight to the respiratory canal, where the disease begins.
Whereas,
This vaccination can also be injected into the dogs. Some dogs easily receive the injectable vaccine, while some dogs have fear towards the needles. To handle such dogs, you need a certified vet. It is also a fact that the injected vaccine is more effective than giving through the nasal canal.
Animal Health Record Feline
You will get a two-sheet document when you select this card. It contains complete information about your dog, including photo, name, gender, date of birth, and various other identities.
There is even complete contact information for owners and veterinarians. So this format will be a complete design. You can choose the best format you want to apply. There are lots of choices that will help you decide.
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What Are Dog Vaccines And Why Are They Important
Vaccines help prepare a dog’s immune system to defend itself from any invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which mimic disease-causing organisms in a dog’s immune system, but don’t actually cause disease. The purpose of puppy vaccines and dog vaccines is to mildly stimulate the immune system by having it recognize the antigens present. This way, if a dog becomes exposed to the real disease, it’s immune system will recognize it, and therefore be prepared to fight it off, or at least reduce its effects.
Dosing For Herbal Immune Blend & Garlic
- Small dogs under 30 lbs: feed 1/4 a freshly minced garlic clove + 3/4 tsp of the herb blend twice a day
- Medium sized dogs 30 to 50 lbs: feed 1/2 a freshly minced garlic clove + ½ Tbsp of the herbal blend twice per day day
- For large and giant dogs 50 lbs+: feed 1 freshly minced garlic clove and 1 tbsp of the herb blend twice a day
Or, for an even greater benefit, you can infuse the herbs to make a tea. Simply pour hot water over your dogs dose and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Then add the whole mixture to your dogs meal. This will give your dog a nice warm meal as well.
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What Is Maternal Immunity
Newborn animals have not yet had a chance to make their own immunity so they need protection against infections present in their environment. They receive this immunity from their mother, as maternal antibodies. Part of this passive immunity is transferred across the placenta while the pup is still in the uterus, but most of it is transferred in the first milk or colostrum.
“This maternal immunity is only temporary.”
This maternal immunity is only temporary. It declines steadily over the first few weeks of life and is largely gone by twelve weeks. The rate of decline is variable, depending on many factors.
How Often Will My Adult Dog Need Booster Vaccinations

After your puppys initial vaccination course is complete, he or she will need a follow up injection every year. Which vaccines are given will depend on your dogs general health and the prevalence of disease in the area you live. For instance, the leptospirosis vaccine needs to be given every year but parvovirus and distemper may only be needed every three years. Your vet should provide you with a vaccination record card so that you know when your dog is due to have his or her boosters.
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Is The Kennel Cough Vaccine Effective
Unfortunately, the kennel cough vaccine is not very effective. Its the reason we dont have cold vaccines for people! Its also why vets recommend vaccinating for kennel cough 2 or 3 times a year.
I mentioned earlier that kennel cough infections come from a mix of bacteria and viruses. But not all of these agents are included in the vaccines. There are about 40 agents that cause kennel cough but the vaccine only covers a few of them. And if the vaccine did include all of them . it would make it even riskier.
Your dogs immune system isnt built to handle so many stressors at once.
So the vaccine makers had to choose the most common infection triggers and use those for vaccines. Some cause more harm than good. Currently most vets consider the intranasal kennel cough vaccines to be the most effective. But the problem goes back to that mixed infection aspect of kennel cough. The intranasal vaccines only contain canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica.
This means the vaccine is ineffective. Heres what immunologist Ronald Schultz PhD said:
So is vaccinating your dog worth the risk, with so little benefit? And that takes us to the last question.